> WHY ARE VIGIL LIGHTS LIT BEFORE ICONS?> By St. Nicolai Velimirovich> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------> ----> FIRST -- because Christ said: "I am the light of the world" (Jn 8:12). The> lamp reminds us of our faith that Christ illumines our souls.> > SECOND -- to remind us of the radiance of the saint before whose icon we> light the lamp, for they are sons of light (Jn 12:36, Lk 16:.> > THIRD -- as a reproach for our dark deeds, evil thoughts and desires, and to> call us to the path of evangelical light; so that we would more zealously> fulfill the commandment of the Savior: "Let you light so shine before men,> that they may see your good works" (Mt. 5:16).> > FOURTH -- as a small sacrifice to God who gave Himself completely as a> sacrifice for us; as a small sign of our great gratitude and radiant love> for Him from Whom we ask for life, health, salvation and everything that> only boundless heavenly love can bestow.> > FIFTH -- to strike the evil powers that assail us even when we pray, leading> our mind away from the Creator; for they love darkness and tremble at light,> especially that of God and those who please Him.> > SIXTH -- to rouse us to selflessness; for just as the oil and wick are> submissive to our will, so our souls should burn with the flame of love in> all our sufferings, always being submissive to God's will.> > SEVENTH -- to teach us that as a vigil lamp cannot be lit without our hand,> so our heart, our inner lamp, cannot be lit without the holy fire of God's> grace, even if filled with virtues for they, after all, are combustible> material, but the fire that ignites them comes from God.> > EIGHTH -- to remind us that before anything else, the Creator of the world> created light, and then everything else in order: "And God said, let there> be light: and there was light" (Gen 1:3). And it must be so also at the> beginning of our spiritual life, so that before all else the light of> Christ's truth would shine in us. From this light then, every good deed is> created, springs up and grows in us.

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Orthodoc

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Oh Lord, Save thy people and bless thine inheritance.Grant victory to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries.And by virtue of thy Cross preserve thy habitation.

Anyone know of what they consider the best and most thorough treatment of the use of candles in Orthodox worship? As an inquirer I've picked up on the sign of the cross and icons but I have not yet begun purchasing and lighting candles. Is there a prayer people say while lighting them?

Prayers before the icons and when candles are lit are very individual and personal. Some talk directly to the person represented in the icon, For Christ and the Theotokos sometimes hymns are said as prayers and other times specific petitions are made. Sometimes the prayers are in thanksgiving and other times a petition or request for intercession.

My Landlord does not allow true burning candles, we have to use battery operated votive candles where we would normally have an oil lampada, or burning candle in a votive glass. The battery lights are ok they flicker some and last about 240 hours or about a week before you have to replace the battery or the candle.